Sugar love

Some of you know I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a week ago last Monday. I was really bummed and frustrated with the news. I was given little information about my condition and was set up to meet with a counselor this week to go over what would happen. I was told two other things, daily blood tests and insulin shots. So I did what everyone else would do, I turned to the trusted internet. There were thousands of pages on diabetes. So much and yet I felt there really was no information. I had an appointment today at the diabetes clinic and by the time I left I felt much more educated, empowered and all the misinformation and myths were dispelled. I did, however, get a glucose meter. I have to check my glucose FOUR times a day and that I am definitely not happy about. I don't care what anyone says, that little prick DOES hurt! But I am ok with it and I hope to get used to it soon. I will have to go through this routine until I deliver the baby. The irony of it all, I don't like sugar very much at all. Go figure!
As for my fall down the stairs last week....I learned to turn the lights on before going down early in the morning (no matter how sleepy I may be) so I am certain it won't happen again.
Some of you know I ended up spending my entire morning at the hospital last Friday. I am doing well, I have had some sporadic contractions but no preterm labor. One of the tests that was done showed there is no likelihood of a preterm birth so I am thrilled about it and I have no infections of any sort.
However, now that I know I have to prick my finger four times a day until delivering the baby, I am definitely hoping this baby comes at exactly 37 weeks and not a day earlier or later!

So much fun!

We've had so much fun in September. It is hard to believe that Fall has already started and September is almost over. We still have Summer weather so we have enjoyed three fun carnivals. We are trying to hit the park before it gets cold and start hibernating.

Day at Trafalga Fun Center

Day at Trafalga Fun Center!

We attended the yearly Buddy Walk and Carnival from the Down Syndrome Foundation

Cooling off in the shade, it was so hot at the carnival from the Down Syndrome Foundation

Enjoying our last summer days at the park

Kailey loves the swings

Heidi in her tumbling class

Gavin in tumbling class

Heidi does really well with tumbling and enjoys using the equipment they have

Kailey in her music class with her little friends

Ethan had a great time at the school's carnival

Ethan in Karate, he is the first one from the right. He will be ready for pretesting to move up a belt next week.

Motivation

Yesterday I made new sticker and reward charts for the kids. I printed some Halloween design ones for obedience and doing chores and I also printed one for showing love and kindness. They were so happy to see their charts and really liked the designs. When I woke up this morning, Ethan walked into my room with a huge grin in his face and a sparkle in his eyes. His hair was all wet and neatly combed and he was already changed and ready for school. He said, “good morning mom! Guess what? I got all ready for school, I made my bed, cleaned up my room, washed my face, combed my hair, set the table, put breakfast out, and even made a decoration for the center of the table and I even got the vitamins out for dad to give them out! Do I get a sticker for doing all that without being asked?
Needles to say, I was dumbfounded! Dave and I just looked at each other surprised and not really knowing what to say.
Of course he got his stickers, I gave him three for showing great initiative. When I went down stairs everything was just as he had said. It was awesome and so helpful because I was not rushed to get everything ready. His dad reminded him he still needed his socks and shoes on so he quickly put them on and then ran out to get the paper for us.
Wow! Was this for real? What a little motivation can do for a child! But that is not all.
Later in the day I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Gavin unloaded all the bags by himself, he could hardly walk when bringing into the house the gallons of milk. He asked for help and then continued unloading the car. He too got a sticker for being so helpful without being asked.
I took the kids to the library for a signing class for Kailey and we then went to the book area so the kids could pick some books and movies to take home. Heidi told me that since Ethan was not there to pick his own she had picked a book and a movie so he would not be sad. She too got a sticker later on in the day for her kindness towards Ethan.
When I asked Heidi and Gavin to do their chores they quickly did them. So they received a lot of praise.
Although there were a couple of quarrels amongst them I can say it was a great day at our house. On days like this I realize that heaven on earth is definitely possible....within our homes.

We are back!

We have been very busy in the spring and summer months. I can't believe it is almost Fall. It is my favorite season! We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We did not celebrate it as we had originally planned but managed to get an overnight escape.

I was miserably sick for a couple of months.....pregnant with our fifth heir! I am due the first week of December. Maybe a girl. Many asked me if I was worried about having another baby with Down Syndrome. I was not concerned about that but I was definitely worried about my sanity and the time I need to spend with each one of my children. The kids are excited and ask me almost daily when the baby will be born. Heidi is worried about who is going to take care of them while I am in the hospital.

Ethan and Heidi had swimming lessons and really enjoyed it.
In June Ethan received the distinguished dragon award at school for outstanding achievement. He has his certificate and medal proudly displayed on the refrigerator. Now that school started again he is reading chapter books and seems to be quite proud of that fact. I guess he is one of the few in his class at that level. His favorite subjects are math and Chinese writing....whose child is this?! He is thrilled to have started Karate and this week, at his request, he starts Chess again.

Heidi started preschool and loves it. She can write her name, sort of, and thinks that she can read. She started tumbling and loves it.

Gavin loves swimming and thinks he knows how. He is in tumbling with Heidi. He spent the entire summer chasing grasshoppers in the backyard. He uses a stick to capture them.

Kailey turned 1 in July. This petite sized toddler started to crawl at full speed recently and is trying very hard to climb up the stairs. She finally managed to get a tooth out. We are working on signing and walking right now.

We had some camping trips, Dave's family reunion in Yellowstone Park, lots of my family over for my sister’s wedding, and my own family reunion. It was the first time all of my siblings got together since my wedding. The only one missing was my dad, I am sure he watched from the other side.

We decorated our house with fall and Halloween stuff and the kids are already wearing their Halloween shirts.